Folding ironing table



Dec. 10, 1929. H. J. GILBERT FOLDING IRONING TABLE Filed Sept. 8. 1928 11E/v LB BY A Gf ERT 'A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED sTATEs maree PATENT OFFC I-IERY J'. GILBERT, 0F SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 SAGINAW MANUFACTUR- j ING CO., 0F SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN i FOLDING IRONING TABLE Application led September 8, 1928. Serial No. 304,769.

My invention relates to folding tables and is more particularly adapted to collapsible ironing boards of the type in which the board is provided with legs which fold against it7 so the device occupies little space when iolded.

An object of my invention is to provide a board of such character in which the legs are braced to combine unusual rigidity with simplicity and compactness and ease and convenience of manipulation.

These advantages are attained by a novel arrangement of the legs with certain connecting braces and strut members arranged to operate telescopically when the table is collapsed or extended, and to presenta neat an d pleasing appearance.

The essential elements of my improvement will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims wherein the invention is defined.

`With the ioregoing and certain other ob-` jects in view, which wili appear later in the traliy arranged front leg 2 hinged to the4 board, preferably near an end thereof. lieg 2 is in the torni of a triangular .irameworlnA It is normally inclined forwardly and downwardly when the table is extended ready for use. Near the lower `rtree end of the iront leg and pivotally connected to it is a strut meinber 3 whose upper end is pivoted to the board at some point 4; slightly rearward of the lower end oi the strut. A pair of legs 5, 5 hinged to the board near its rear corners in the manner shown in my Patent No. 1,627,557.

The downwardly inclined front leg 2 and the upright rear legs 5 are connected together br telescopic tie-rods 6 whose i'ront ends 6 are close together and the rear ends G are spread apart to their respective points of at tachment on the rear legs of the table, thereby constituting in conjunction with the rear legs and inclined iront leg a pyramidal braced structure of great rigidity.

Similarly the inclined front leg 2 and the strut 3 in conjunction with the board l forni a pyramidal structure. The two hypothetical pyramids have the same apex, namely, the common point of attachment of the strut, tieiods and front leg. They have a common side, defined by the plane ofthe front ieg 2. The base oi' one pyramid is deiined by the plane of the two back legs, the base oi the other pyramid being the board.

This double pyramidal structure imparts stability in the ordinary use of the board, and the members although light combine 'to pio duce a rigid table support. The strut 3 carries the weight oi' the front and middle parts of the board and transmits the resultant downward thrust to the front leg at a place near its free end.

In construction the strut member 3 is telescopic, being composed of two yor more sections slidable one within the other as for er;n ample an inner tube Ba and an outer tube an. These tube sections are releasably secured together by a latch, which may be oi the hind `shown in Figs. 4 and 5, although the construction and mode of operation of the latch may be varied to any extent desired without departing 'from my invention as set i'orth in the claims. i

The form of latch shown in the drawings is a bowed spring 7 slightly stressed and inserted lengthwise into the inner tube 3a so its middle or convex part bears against the inner wall oi the tube and its ends tend to thrust Q outwardly against the opposite iace of the cylindrical wall. One end 7 of the spring is received in a recess formed in the tube wall and the other end of the spring is a latch that extends through a slit in the tube and projects out therefrom to present a depressible thumb piece 7b for engagement in a slit 8 01"' the outer tube fia. Preferably two such springs and thumb pieces are employed, asshown, to prevent the sections 3a, 4.a from moving in either direction when the board is extended.

ltending Vthe table are greatly simplified by y employing the telescopic strut and tie-rods in conjunction with the hinged front and rear le j Y gIo collapselthe table itis either turned upside down or stood on end. The latch 7b in l. tie-rod 6 is depressed and leg 5 is swung forward, as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2, the tie-rod 6 shortening by telescoping. Similarly the latch of strut 3 is then depressed and Y the front leg is folded flat against the under side of'the board, the strut 3 telescoping and shortening and taking the position indicated by dotted'lines in Fig. 3. This telescoping action of the strut is due to the fact that its upper pivotal connection 4 to the board l is rearward of its lower connection, as indicated at X.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a folding ironing table a board, a centrally arranged front leg hinged to the board near an end thereof and normally inclined forwardly and downwardly, a strut member pivotally connected to said front legnear the free end thereof and pivotally connected to the board, rear legs hinged to the board near therear corners thereof, tie-rods hinged at their'ends respectively to said front leg and to said rear legs, said strut member and tierods each made up ofsections slidable one within the other and a latch adapted to releasably secure said sections in extended position.

`2. In a folding ironing table, a boa-rd, a centrally arranged front leg hinged to the Y board and normally inclined forwardly and downwardly, a strut member pivotally connected to saidfront leg and to the board, rear legs hinged tothe board,` tie-rods hinged at their ends respectively to said front leg and to said rear legs, said strut member and tie- `50 rods each including sections slidable one relatively to the other and a latch adapted to releasably secure. said sections in extended posif tion.

- pivotal connection of said strut and to said rearlegs, said strut member and tie-rods each Y including 'sections slidableY one relatively to the otherrand -a latch adapted to releasably securesaid vsectionsin extended position.

4. In a folding ironing table, a board, a leg hinged to the board and normally inclined forwardly and downwardly, a telescopic strut member pivotally Connecting said leg and board, rear legs hinged to the board, telescopic tie rods each hinged at one end respectively to said front leg at the point of attachment of said strut member, and hinged at its other end to said upright legs, and means adapted'to releasably secure said telescopic membersin extended position.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signature.

HENRY J. GILBERT. 

